Florence SWAT secures yesterday’s active shooter scene… Shooter dead…

FLORENCE – MUSCLE SHOALS – Reagan Lee Jones, 35, Apt. 1203, Arbor Village Apartments, on Firestone Avenue was killed by return fire in Wednesday’s short-duration gunbattle with a Florence Police SWAT team member. Jones, who had lived in the apartment for only about 4 months, shot his sister through his closed front door. That altercation was evidently the result of Reagan’s emotional state. His sister, who was treated and released from Huntsville Hospital, had according to media reports, tried earlier in the day to have her brother checked in to Riverbend Mental Health in Florence for observation. Her request was reportedly denied.

Here is the media release from Florence Police Chief Ron Tyler:

“On Wednesday August 13th at approximately 11:35. Lt. Mike Holt. the Florence Police
Department SWAT Team Commander received a request from Muscle Shoals Police
Department to assist them with a barricaded. active shooter situation*

It. Holt arrived at Arbor Village Apartments by 12:00¥ At this time. the situation was stilt
very fluid and multiple shots were still being fired from within Mr. Jones apartment.

Afler coordInating with Muscle Shoats Police, it was determined that Florence Police
SWAT would take over responsibility for evacuating the remainder of the residents in
nearby apartments~

At approximately 12:34. Florence SWAT officers began evacuation of the building
directly across from Mr. Jones apartment. White attempting to evacuate those
residents. Florence SWAT officers were fired upon, multiple times. by Mr. Jones. who
was using a high powered, military style rifle. As officers were under a barrage of gun
fire, one Florence Police SWAT officer fired two (2) rounds at Mr. Jones in response to
the gun fire. Immediately after the SWAT officer fired, the shooting from within Mr.
Jones apartment ceased. These were the only two rounds fired by a Florence Police
Officer during the incident.

Al the moment the Florence Police Officer fired his 2 rounds, several Florence Police
officers as well as nearby citizens were 1n immediate and life threatening danger. At
least one Florence offICer was hit by shrapnel and debris from Mr. Jones’  gunfire.

Then. after a reasonable amount of time, the Florence Police bomb robot… being
controlled by an EOD specialist, was driven to Mr. Jones’ apartment window. Using a
camera attached to the robot officerlooked into the window in order to gain an
updated assessment of the situation. Unable to confirm if the scene was secure, an
explosive charge was subsequently set off at the door to the apartment. While Florence
SWAT officers provided cover from the windows. Muscle Shoals Officers entered and
secured the apartment.

The follow up investigation has been turned over to the ABf at the request of Chief
Robert Evans. Pursuant to our policy. the Florence Police Officer has been placed on
paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the ABI investigation. Florence Police
will also convene its own shooting review board during which we will evaluate the
circumstances and actions taken by Florence Police Officers during this event.”